IPSWICH — Chief Paul A. Nikas is pleased to announce that the Ipswich Police Department has been awarded $30,000 in grant funding to improve road safety.
The $30,000 was made available by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and allocated by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR). This funding will be used to support the Municipal Road Safety Program, which assists in developing enforcement strategies to reduce roadway crashes, injuries, fatalities, and associated economic losses in Massachusetts.
Ipswich Police Department will use the funds for traffic safety enforcement and equipment. Traffic Safety Enforcement will include six enforcement patrols in the coming year.
The Department will purchase equipment including a solar-powered pole-mounted radar gun, and bicycle safety equipment, helmets, and visibility vests that will be given out to the public.
Additionally, the grant will cover non-enforcement safety activities. These will include:
- Crash Reconstruction Training, which will include an officer becoming a certified crash reconstructionist, allowing the department to better investigate serious and fatal crashes.
- Advanced Impairment Detection to send the department’s two certified Drug Recognition Experts and other officers to advanced trainings.
- Drivers Education classes. This will allow Traffic Safety and School Resource Officers to present at driver’s education classes.
- Drone VASCAR Patrols. Using the Department drones to conduct Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder (VASCAR) speed enforcement to include an additional layer of speed deterrence.
- Commercial Motor Vehicle Training. This training will allow Traffic Officers to become certified DOT inspectors as well as participate in other CMV advanced trainings, which will help better conduct and enforce commercial motor vehicle laws.
- Mock Crash Event (for Prom). The grant will be used to conduct a mock crash at Ipswich High School before senior prom, to dissuade impaired and distracted driving during prom season.
“I want to thank the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, and the Office of Grants and Research for awarding us this grant,” said Chief Nikas. “These training programs, equipment, and additional patrols will help maintain road safety within our community. Safety, especially driving and road safety, is of the utmost importance.”
About the FFY 2023 Municipal Road Safety (MRS) Grant Program
The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) allocated $5,000,000 in FFY 2023 grant funding to municipal police departments within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The grants are designed to provide substantial flexibility in addressing local traffic safety issues, allowing funding beyond enforcement to include equipment options and developing novel traffic safety programs.
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